Reaction'Special day' - Bradley and McConnell on FA Cup win and taking their chance
Conor Bradley and James McConnell reflected on another proud day for Liverpool’s Academy after the Reds beat Norwich City 5-2 on Sunday.
On an emotional afternoon at Anfield, Bradley and McConnell were part of a Jürgen Klopp side that featured four players in the starting XI who have emerged from the youth ranks – and another on from the bench in Trent Alexander-Arnold – and delivered a pair of impressive performances.
McConnell, making his first professional start, set up the opening goal for Curtis Jones as Liverpool booked their place in the Emirates FA Cup fifth round.
Bradley finished with two assists of his own, creating for both Darwin Nunez and Ryan Gravenberch, and claimed the Player of the Match award.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com post-match, 19-year-old McConnell revealed his pride at being trusted to start his first Reds game.
“You put in lots of hard work for opportunities like that,” he said. “We’re just grateful for the opportunity and I had to just try to take it and do the best I can.
“You’re hoping, more than thinking, probably. You’re just thinking maybe he’ll give me a chance because of the history he’s got for giving youngsters a chance, like you see with Con and Jarell [Quansah], Stefan [Bajcetic] last year.
“It was more hope, but you always know if you work hard that the chance is going to come and you’ve just got to try to do your best to take it.”
Bradley echoed his teammate’s comments.
“He said it right, it’s all about hard work,” the Northern Ireland international added.
“If you keep working hard in training every day you’ll get your chance, and thankfully he got his chance today and took it with a brilliant assist, so I’m buzzing for him as well.
“This is my dream club, so to be out there playing at Anfield, I’m just buzzing.”
Discussing his assist, which came courtesy of a perfectly flighted diagonal to Jones in the 16th minute, McConnell said: “I saw him making a run and thought on my left foot I’d just try to find him.
“I was grateful it happened so early, [because] it calmed me down, I think, for the rest of the game.
“Three assists between us is quite good I think! Con was obviously really good, and I’m happy to play alongside the boys I’ve come through the Academy with. It was a special, special day.”
Asked if he had received any special advice from Klopp before the game, McConnell said: “He leaves you to it, [and] that’s the best way.
“If he plays you, he knows that you’re ready so the best thing he can do is treat you like all the other players. It gives you a confidence boost.
“[He said] nothing major, just that your family is all here, so make sure you enjoy it.”
Bradley, meanwhile, spoke of his excitement at a big week coming up, with Premier League games against both Chelsea and Arsenal in the next seven days, and players such as Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai all returning from injury in Sunday’s win.
“It’s brilliant to see, we’ve got four or five bodies coming back now,” he said. “We’re just out of a busy period, and to have those bodies back is going to help us in our push for hopefully winning everything we can.
“We’ve just got to keep going, we’ve got another big game against Chelsea coming up in midweek, so we’re looking forward to that.
“It’s a massive week, two big games. We’ll focus on Chelsea first, hopefully get the three points there and then move on to Arsenal.”